Brian Cashman: Signing Rafael Soriano Was Ownership's Call

Filed under: Yankees, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency

Before the Yankees inked reliever Rafael Soriano to a three-year deal reportedly worth about $35 million, general manager Brian Cashman was adamant that the team would not sign him because it did not want to forfeit draft picks for what amounts to a setup man.

So what changed? In short, the influence of ownership.

Speaking at Soriano's introductory press conference Wednesday, Cashman explained that it was ultimately co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner who decided to bring in the former Rays closer.

"I just didn't think it was an efficient way to allocate our remaining resources," he told reporters.

Cashman added: "We are better in 2011 for this. ... Twenty-nine GMs would love to have their owners force Rafael Soriano down their throat."

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/01/19/brian-cashman-signing-rafael-soriano-was-ownerships-call/

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